The Effective Team Process section describes how to use Meeting Essentials (components for effective teaming), Meeting Practices (team behaviors), and Individual Accountability Practices (individual team member behaviors) for more effective team meetings. The Effective Team Process Checklist is a tool that teams can use to evaluate their processes in these three areas and set goals for improvement.

• Effective Team Process Checklist
• Meeting Essentials
• Meeting Practices
• Individual Meeting Accountability

When a team is presented with a problem, it is crucial for the team to efficiently identify variables and develop solutions that result in an action plan. This becomes more complicated when problems are complex or emotionally charged, and the process slows or is halted.  Adding structure to the process through the use of the Meeting Mechanics Problem Solving Process can assist with efficiently developing solutions in these situations. It is especially important to have all relevant team members involved to increase the odds of implementation.   

Meeting Mechanics has some crucial elements: 

• It involves having a facilitator “run the board,” which means using a whiteboard or chart paper to document the problem solving process.
• Guiding principles are posted (see the magnets in the manual) for all to see, so that the “rules” of the process are clear.
• Visual organizers create the problem solving and planning structure for different types of meetings. Specifically, the visual organizers guide the facilitator in how to set up the board.
• The facilitator follows the six steps of the Meeting Mechanics process: Problem Identification, Problem Specification, Brainstorming, Cluster and Prioritize, Implementation Variables, and Action Plan Development.

Starting with Problem Identification, the facilitator translates the discussion to the visual organizer on the board. One of the guiding principles is to “talk to the board,” especially during times of emotional escalation or when too much discussion is hindering the process. The team then moves through the steps in a timely way to gain a deeper understanding of the problem, identify potential solutions, define resources and barriers, and develop an action plan. 

Meeting Mechanics follows a linear progression and each step should be completed thoroughly yet efficiently before the next step is started. Ultimately, Meeting Mechanics leads to better informed and more creative solutions, and a well-defined plan developed through a collaborative process.

• Problem Identification
• Problem Specification
• Brainstorming
• Cluster & Prioritize
• Implementation Variables
• Action Plan Development

Two key resources to enhance the Meeting Mechanics Process are Guiding Principles and Visual Organizers. During meetings, Guiding Principles are posted and visible to all team members, and visual organizers are used to structure the meeting discussion. 

• Guiding Principles
• Meeting Agenda Visual Organizer
• Meeting Mechanics Visual Organizer
• Adult Support Determination Process and Planning Tool
• ABC Visual Organizer
• Schedule Matrix Visual Organizer
• Behavioral Response Script Visual Organizer
• Differentiated Output Visual Organizer
• Passport and Peer to Peer Support Visual Organizer
• Individualized Educational Program (IEP) Process Visual Organizer
• ASD Evaluation Visual Organizer
• Collaborative Transition Visual Organizer
• Classroom Environment and Teaching Assessment (CETA) Organizer
• Action Plan Organizer